Gagne understands trade day anxiety

VOORHEES, N.J. — Simon Gagne isn’t that many years removed from the uncertainty that other players were experiencing Tuesday at the Skate Zone. He knows that the Flyers’ exciting pair of weekend wins over Boston and Washington means the NHL trade deadline, which comes today at 3, is more of a focal point now in this Flyers locker room.

It’s sparked a feeling that Gagne, now the well-traveled vet back for a second stint in Philadelphia, had as a young Flyer. It seems a similar situation to what 20-year-old Sean Couturier might be experiencing now.

A player with a bright future having a down season, which means trade inquiries about him are at a high.

“If I go back to when I was maybe the age of Sean, it did (affect me) maybe a little bit at first,” Gagne said. “But after that you understand your name will come up a lot in the next couple of years, because you’re a prospect and you’re a young player that other teams want when teams are making trades. So on the other side, you can look at it as a positive sign, that it means other teams are looking at you and like what they see. But the only thing you can do is go on the ice.”

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It’s back to Wells Fargo Center ice tonight for Couturier, the ticketed star whose current season, at least until very recently, brought the old characterization of sophomore jinx to life, and Gagne, still a skilled veteran who since being traded back to Philadelphia has been looking to re-establish himself. Overshadowing their personal chapters, of course, is the story of the Flyers still trying to make something of this season as they go against the Canadiens for what would be their first three-game winning streak of the campaign.

Before the puck is dropped for that one, however, everything can be dramatically changed in time for that 3 o’clock deadline.

“It’s that time of season, not only for young guys but for all the guys,” Gagne said. “Maybe guys are a little nervous and watching what’s going on. But it’s part of the business and the older you get the more you get used to it.”

Yet the Flyers’ improved proximity to a playoff spot — they were four points out of eighth entering Tuesday night’s games, but stood a chance of dropping to 13th place in the conference after those games were played — seemed to be adding some intrigue to the usual Trading Day doubts. That and the spate of Flyers injuries in the previous 10 days might have skewed any deadline plans for the organization.

Instead of selling a few parts as part of a rebuilding effort for next season, the Flyers suddenly were cast into a position of perhaps trading for a healthy body or two to fill holes. They did that the last couple of days by bringing in lower-rung defenseman Kent Huskins (for a conditional draft pick) and enforcer-type winger Jay Rosehill. For him, the Flyers rid themselves of bubble player Harry Zolnierczyk.

“It’s real nice. It’s going to be a good opportunity for me,” Rosehill said Tuesday after his first Flyers practice. “I was happy to get the call yesterday and get in here real quick and get around the guys.”

The first thing he gets to see are a few players wondering if there will be any news impacting their careers come this afternoon.

While the Flyers aren’t of a mind to trade any of their young core players — and yes, Couturier still is in that mix — you never know what a phone call to the general manager’s office will bring on a day like this.

While club president Peter Luukko stresses all personnel moves are in GM Paul Holmgren’s hands, he said, “It makes sense to plan for the future when you believe in your core guys.”

Going forward, that seems a sound philosophy. For a defense that never could come close to filling the crater created by Chris Pronger’s career-ending injury, and is currently in injury shambles and will need much fixing in the offseason? Well, that’s something else altogether.

For now, though...

“You just want to see what’s going to happen,” Gagne said. “It’s something you can’t control and if you stress over it and lose energy from it, it might not help you.”

NOTES: Prior to Jaromir Jagr’s trade from Dallas to Boston was official Tuesday, a couple of former Jagr linemates talked at length about how much they’d like to see him return to Philadelphia. An example: “Just his presence, the leadership, the guy he is around the room,” Scott Hartnell said of Jagr. “His smiles are infectious. We’d welcome him with open arms.”

Alas, that’s what the Bruins did. Boston sent two prospects to Dallas, along with a second-round pick that will be a first-rounder if the Bruins win their first two playoff series this year for Jagr. It’s believed the Flyers did have some interest in Jagr, just not as much as the Bruins did. Nor did they have the same prospect power.

The Flyers certainly had interest in San Jose’s pending free agent, Ryane Clowe, who went to the Rangers for a bevy of draft picks. Without moving people for relief, the Flyers would have had a problem extending Clowe’s deal due to cap restrictions. ... Expect defenseman Nick Grossmann to consider a return from his upper body injury against the Canadiens. While fellow defenders Andrej Meszaros and Braydon Coburn have long-term shoulder injuries, Grossmann might be able to go. ... With all the defensive trouble, the Flyers still waived defenseman Kurtis Foster Tuesday. Not sure if he’ll go to minors if he isn’t claimed.